For many years, I have kept the bookshelf closest to the door in my office reserved for popular press books on energy and the environment, and I often lend these books out to my students. Happily, I even get most of them back. I decided to bring that bookshelf here virtually, after seeing a similar page on Melissa Lott’s Global Energy Matters blog. So, here is my current top 10 list of books for energy and environment enthusiasts, with a strong Canadian bias. By no means does inclusion on this list imply that I agree with all (or anything) the author has to say…it simply implies that it’s a book you should consider reading.

2014-2015

1. Global Warming Gridlock, by David Victor

2. The Power Surge: Energy, Opportunity, and the Battle for America’s Future by Michael A. Levi

3. Hot Air by Jeffrey Simpson, Mark Jaccard, and Nic Rivers (yes, it’s old. But we’re back to many of the same discussions again in Canada, so read it.)

4. The Prize and the Quest by Daniel Yergin (get the audio books)

5. Let the Eastern Bastards Freeze in the Dark by Mary Janigan

6. The Longer I’m Prime Minister by Paul Wells (not an energy book, but you should read it. Great context around PM Harper’s views on energy, trade, and the environment)

7. Oil and Honey by Bill McKibben (great insights into the environmental movement. Even if you loathe environmentalists, read it)

8. Nudge, by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein (again, not an energy book, but worth the read and has some energy content)

9. The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World, by Russell Gold

I was wondering if you have read Jeff Rubin’s books “Why your world is about to get a whole lot smaller”, or his latest one “The End of Growth”. I would be very interested to hear your opinions on one or both of them if you have had the chance to read them (“The End of Growth was released within the last week or so, so I think that one’s review may have to wait).

Thanks for reading. I have read Rubin’s first book, but not the new one. It’s on my list. While I think his premise (that high oil prices are a drain on the economy) is true, I don’t think that implies that we will price ourselves out of oil. I think quite the opposite is true – if you believe that oil is both scarce and essential, you’ll see prices rise as producers demand more for the resource, and thus you’ll see more conservation. If the price increase comes as a shock, then the effect can be markedly different. Anyway, don’t have time for a full review, but I do think his books are worth a read given the Canadian content, but I would temper them with a dose of Future Babble by Dan Gardner.

Thanks for posting your bookshelf. Many books I haven’t read, yet. I look forward to reading some of them.

One book I highly recommend is Immoderate Greatness: Why Civilizations Fail by William Ophul. I came across this book in Jeremy Grantham’s investment newsletter. It’s a very short (70 page), highly readable book summarizing why complex civilizations fail. And all civilizations are complex. The Table of Contents summarizes the 6 ways to fail. These include Biophysical Limits (Ecological Exhaustion, Exponential Growth, Expedited Entropy, Excessive Complexity) and Human Error (Moral Decay, Practical Failure). The chapters on Biophysical Limits will be familiar to many folks with an environment/sustainability leaning. But they don’t feel like a rehash, more like a good synthesis from someone with a deep understanding of the subject matter. It’s not an optimistic book, so you may want have your favorite strong beverage close at hand while you read it.

BTW, I don’t think Rubin is arguing that oil prices won’t rise. Rather he is saying that economic growth is dependent on relatively “cheap” oil. So price rises will be constrained by the ability of the economy to pay for “expensive” oil. Higher prices will drive conservation, efficiency and substitution to the extent possible, but growing global population and affluence will drive demand up. It’s like he is saying there is a ceiling on oil prices that we won’t exceed, because if we do, it will depress growth, hence demand, etc. It’s surprisingly well written (after all, he was an investment bank economist) and easy to read.

About When Smoke Ran Like Water by Dr. Devra Davis, just read this book.
This is a good and balanced book, especially considering the vested interests of the author (her life!). Too often, these types of books turn into little more than political rants. This is not the case here. Sure, there are political actions and inactions that are discussed, but no personal attacks.
There is not a tremendous amount of scientific data in this book, but I did not expect it. I was not looking for a tome of information. The author delivers on her personal and professional experiences in what is the best way possible. If only we could get others to follow her lead.